It's hard to believe that Third Stage came out almost 20 years ago. I remember listening to it on cassette in my ugly red Horizon going to high school. It took Tom about 8 years to finish this album after 1978's Don't Look Back. But it still went to #1 thanks to the single Amanda (which also went to #1). The other singles were We're Ready and Can'tcha Say, both of which charted well too. Third Stage has the trademark soaring harmonized guitar lines that Boston became known for and Brad Delp's vocals are as powerful as ever. There is not really any song on this album that I dislike so I can always listen to it from start to finish. My favorite songs are The Launch, I Think I Like It, and Hollyann. The reason I give it 4 stars is because there are not as many standout tracks as on the first album. Also, the production is a bit too grand on some of the songs. But Third Stage is a good album despite some of the criticism heaped on it.

Boston's third album Third Stage was released in September of 1986.
The band was now down to two original members guitarist Tom Scholz whom also did bass guitar, keyboards and some of the drums and lead singer Brad Delp.
The album took eight years to create because of a court case that Tom had with CBS Records whom stopped paying him royalties because he took longer than usual to create Third Stage. In the end, Tom won the court case and went over to MCA which was being run by Eagles manager Irving Azoff at the time. When fans opened this album up and gave it a spin, as I did on my 11th birthday in 1987, millions were in for a treat.
The album kicks off with the #1 ballad Amanda which was the only song to go to #1 in 1986 without a video, something which should be learned in the music business. The rock radio staples on the album were We're Ready and the kick-ass Cool the Engines. The instrumental The Launch is awesome and I used to watch the speaker rumble during the beginning of this track. My Destination is seen as an Amanda Reprise but good nonetheless. Cant'cha Say/Still in Love is a great love song which was the third single from the album but released in edited form without the Still in Love bit. The closing ballad Hollyann's chorus has the same music pattern as Cant'cha Say but a semi-tone lower and a slower tempo but a great song.
Third Stage was an instant smash going all the way to #1 on the album charts where it reigned for four weeks.
I had this on cassette as a child but now sounds great on CD. Hey Universal, how about a remaster!
Highly recommended!

Why does Tom Scholz brag in "Third Stage"'s liner notes that he doesn't use synthesisers? When Tom recorded these songs, he used his guitar as a synthesiser. Synthesised sounds are all over this record from start to finish. Tom made his guitar sound like a frigging violin for gods sake. And he thinks thats not a synthesised sound?

Now, on to the music. If you've worn out your copy of "Don't Look Back" or the debut, Third Stage is practically interchangable with those two records; multi octave tenor vocals, layers of heavilly reverbed guitars, and lots of fancy studio wizardry all around.

And lets not forget the incredible amount of synthesisers Mr. Scholz used. Sure he SAYS there were no synthesisers used, but we all know better than that. This record is LOADED with synthesised sounds. When the listener hears a violin that is actually a guitar, than that is a synthesised sound, weather Tom wants to admit it or not. So yes Tom, your record DOES use synthesisers. Only in your case they're modified guitars as opposed to keyboards.